Heating up: Extreme weather is increasing stress for parents and child care providers

Children are sensitive to the health impacts of extreme weather, and many caregivers of young children report experiencing extreme weather events. RAPID asks parents and child care providers about extreme weather to better understand the environments in which young children are developing and the experiences of the important adults in their lives.

Download the complete fact sheet for direct quotes from survey participants and more.

Download

Throughout 2022, RAPID listened to families with young children to better understand their experiences with extreme weather, and found that 78% of parents report being worried about extreme weather. These data highlight the impact of extreme weather events on caregivers and young children and how the environments in which families live are impacting children.

This fact sheet builds on these findings using August 2024 RAPID national survey data from parents of children under age 6 and child care providers. We asked caregivers about their experiences with extreme weather events and the impacts of these events on their own health and the health of the children in their care.

The majority of caregivers of young children are concerned about extreme weather

The data show that extreme weather is an issue affecting families with young children and child care providers across all income levels, races, ethnicities, and geographic locations. More than three in five (61%) parents of children under age 6 have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the past two years, and an even higher percentage of parents (69%) say they are worried about extreme weather events happening and the impact it could have on their children. Similarly, more than half (57%) of child care providers report experiencing at least one extreme weather event in the past two years.

In their responses to open-ended questions, many parents express concern and stress about extreme weather, as indicated by the quotes in this fact sheet.

Parents experiencing at least one extreme weather event in the past two years, overall

Abnormally warm weather is a particular concern for caregivers of young children

We asked caregivers to tell us about the types of extreme weather they are experiencing; caregivers could select more than one type of extreme weather. Almost half of parents with young children (47%) experience abnormally warm temperatures, the extreme weather event that parents most frequently report experiencing, trailed by tropical storms (13%), abnormally cold temperatures (13%), flooding (13%), drought (12%), tornadoes (10%), hurricanes (9%), and wildfires (7%).

Nearly half of child care providers also report experiencing abnormally warm temperatures (43%), the extreme weather event that providers most frequently report, followed by abnormally cold temperatures (23%), flooding (14%), drought (10%), tornadoes (9%), tropical storms (7%), hurricanes (5%), and wildfires (5%).

Extreme heat poses risks throughout childhood, such as increased heat-related injuries and conditions, and can have serious effects on children’s health, learning, and development in the future.

Most caregivers are dealing with higher summertime electricity bills

To understand the potential economic impacts of abnormally warm weatherr on those who provide care for young children, we asked parents: “How are your current electricity costs this summer compared with an average summer month in previous years?” About three in four parents (72%) report higher electricity costs.

We also see differences in electricity costs based on where families live: 73% of families living in urban areas report higher electricity costs compared to 61% of families living in rural areas.

In a separate survey question, one in three providers (34%) report having higher electricity bills. Furthermore, in their responses to open-ended questions, parents and caregivers across the U.S. also tell us how abnormally warm weather is driving their use of electricity and about the increasing costs of electricity.

Parents’ reported electricity costs compared to last summer, overall

Caregivers and young children are spending less time outside

To understand other ways that extreme weather is affecting young children and their families, we asked caregivers about changes in their health, well-being, and time spent outside.

A significant percentage of parents (84%) say their own physical health or emotional well-being is being negatively affected by extreme weather and more than half of parents (56%) report their children’s physical health or emotional well-being is being negatively affected by extreme weather. A third of providers (31%) say that extreme heat makes them more stressed and impacts their work environment or ability to provide child care.

Parents, providers, and young children are also reducing the amount of time they spend outside in response to extreme weather. Three in four (75%) parents and more than half (55%) of child care providers say they spend less time outside with children due to extreme temperatures and weather. Spending less time outside is the most prevalent extreme weather impact that parents and child care providers report.

Research shows that spending time outside in nature offers many benefits, including health benefits, to caregivers and young children, and it is notable that families and child care providers are reducing their opportunities to benefit from outside time due to extreme weather events.

Parents’ reported impacts from extreme weather, overall

Child care providers’ reported impacts from extreme weather, overall

Conclusion

Around the world, a growing number of caregivers are trying to find ways to mitigate and adapt to the uncertainty and the environmental conditions brought on by extreme weather that are threatening the development and well-being of young children and families. Increasing heat and other extreme weather events are affecting children's health and well-being, while also heightening stress of their caregivers, who need additional support to ensure healthy indoor and outdoor environments for young children. With more caregivers experiencing extreme weather events and environmental concerns impacting families everywhere, there is an urgent need to act on caregivers’ experiences and concerns and take immediate steps to improve environmental conditions in support of a healthier planet, and thriving families and communities now and in the future.